N.Z.’S UNEMPLOYED

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 145, 4 June 1936, Page 9

N.Z.’S UNEMPLOYED

Charge of “Rigging” Against Late Government

DISGGISED FIGURES By Telegraph—Press Association. WELLINTON, June 3. In the course of the debate on the Imprest Supply Bill Mr 8. G. Smith (Nat., New Plymouth) referred to the unemployment problem, which he said \vas not being- helped much by the action of the Government. Re had been unable to get a single man from his district on ,to the Public Works.

The Hon. P. Fraser said that when Mr Smith was in charge of unemploy ment the position became worse and conditions became worse. The Government did ask for a minimum of sincerity from the Opposition benches. When the Opposition talked of dictatorships his mind went back to the period of struggle they had in the House over a number nf years to stand up against the measures of the Government, and to the means that were adopted to stifle discussion.

Referring at a later stage to statements that the unemployment figures ban been held back, the Hon. H. T Armstrong, Minister of Labour, said that the figures had not been available for many days and that he had refused te give the figures in the way in which they had been given by the last Go yernment.

The debate was carried on iu a tumi lar strain, Mr Fraser remarking at a later stage that on April 5, 1935, the Opposition, who then occupied the Treasury benches, took supply for three months aud that on May 10, 1932, sup ply was taken for £11,000,000.

The last Government for three or four months before the election had rigged the figures to convince the people that the unemployment figures were going down when, as a matter of fact, they were going up. Instructions had been given not to count as dependent upon the relief fund relief workers who had been transferred to standard work at rates which were 9/- a day.

Mr Armstrong; taid that the last Government was tatting men from those receiving sustenance and who were on the No. 5 scheme and paying them 9/and 12/- and removing them from the unemployed. In June last the figure was 18,000 more than was indicated, and a false impression was created. He estimated that more than 200 Q men and women in New Zealand whn previously were receiving the dole from hospital boards were now rewiving sustenance, and the present iGovernment was also feeding a large number of people who were left f,o »farye by the last Government. The Government was also paying a higher rate to those employed under the No. 5 scheme. Moro people were Iu permanent work than there had been for the last five years. Country relief workers had been brought up to the level paid in the cities, Maoris had peen brtught up to the level of pakehas, and a substantial increase had been ; Iven. In addition, relief workers were living at a better standard than they were before.

He said that there were 390 fewer persons on the unemployment roll in April than there were in March. He outlined other steps that the present Government had taken to improve the conditions of the unemployed. He said that the last Government had used the Unemployment Fund for political purposes and to shanghai people on |o public works an<J to pay out of that fund sums that should have come opt of the Consolidated Fund.' That was done to balance the Budget and to convey the impression to the people that the unemployment problem was being salved whereas, as a matter of fact, it was being aggravated.